A third Sydney team, based in the Sutherland Shire, "could be introduced as early as next year" with Wellington Phoenix's future in the A-League "up in the air," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The New Zealand club's license expires at the end of the season "and while no decision on their future has been made yet by the FFA," the groundwork for finding a replacement is "well under way." Several meetings to establish a new A-League club have taken place in recent weeks between the top brass at FFA, Sutherland Shire Council, National Rugby League club Cronulla and the Sutherland Shire FA, the largest FA in NSW and potentially Australia. FFA has ruled out expansion to a 12-team competition and "confirmed any new team entering the competition would be at the expense of an existing club." The governing body is reportedly looking at "cutting all ties with New Zealand football," which "offers little" for Australian player development, broadcast revenue and A-League attendances. FFA is already in negotiations with Fox Sports and major networks Nine, Ten and Seven over the next TV deal and an additional six derby games in Sydney "would be an ideal drawcard for broadcasters" in favor of ditching a New Zealand team. The Sutherland Shire is "not the only market the FFA is actively researching" for a potential new club with a second team in Brisbane and a third in Melbourne also "strongly considered" (SMH, 10/21).
